Mathura gears up for Modi rally today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a rally here on Monday to mark the first anniversary of his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Laxmikant Bajpai, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Uttar Pradesh unit president, and his senior colleagues on Sunday visited the rally venue and reviewed the arrangements.

A BJP leader at the rally ground - Deen Dayal Dham - said the venue would be able to accommodate over one lakh people. "TV screens are being installed so that people can see and hear the prime minister. The rally will be telecast live to over 130 countries," a BJP leader said.

The prime minister, who will arrive at a helipad here at 3.45 pm on Monday, will spend some time at the memorial of Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. He will leave for Delhi later in the day.